The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that Nigeria faces a high risk of importing the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) following ongoing outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Although no confirmed Ebola case has been recorded in Nigeria, the agency said increased regional transmission, international travel and cross-border movement have heightened the risk of the disease spreading into the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, said the agency’s latest risk assessment classified the threat level as high.
“This assessment estimated the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria as high due to the ongoing transmission in the DRC and Uganda, international travel and population movement, uncertainty regarding the full magnitude of the outbreak, and the potential for delayed recognition because symptoms may overlap with endemic diseases such as malaria and Lassa fever,” the statement read.
The agency disclosed that several states have already been identified as vulnerable because of their proximity to land borders, major transport routes and international entry points.
According to the NCDC, response efforts are ongoing in the affected countries, including surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control measures, as well as public sensitisation campaigns.
“However, we are aware of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and recent reports of a confirmed imported case in Uganda linked to the outbreak in DRC,” the agency stated.
As part of preparedness measures, the NCDC said Nigeria’s national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been placed on alert mode, while the incident management system has also been activated to strengthen national coordination and outbreak response capacity.
The agency added that Nigeria still retains important structures and expertise developed from previous Ebola and viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks.
“It also must be noted that Nigeria maintains important response capacities, including laboratory capability, trained rapid response teams, functional emergency operations centres (EOCs), established viral haemorrhagic fever preparedness structures, and prior experience in successfully responding to Ebola and other viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks,” the statement added.
“Epidemiologists and rapid response teams (RRTs) are also on alert for rapid deployment to any affected state, if required.”
The NCDC further stated that laboratories located in states with international points of entry have been placed on standby, while sample collection and transportation systems are being strengthened to support rapid diagnosis of suspected infections.
The agency also said it has intensified public communication campaigns aimed at countering misinformation and false claims surrounding Ebola.
“NCDC is strengthening public awareness and risk communication activities, intensifying social listening and rumour management systems, and working with media organizations, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and digital platforms to amplify credible information and promote responsible public discourse,” the statement said.
“NCDC has also developed and disseminated Ebola Myths and Facts materials to address misinformation and false claims circulating online.”
